woensdag 21 december 2016

Logics (and a lot of existing experience in horticultural world) allready told me this was a great medium, and my own experience showed just that.

Vermiculite, as outstanding medium for airlayering.

Vermiculite has specific great advantage for the purpose of airlayering:1. lightweight, which comes in handy for airlayering higher up the trunk
2. high water buffering capacity
3. sterile, and anti-fungus (it does not rot, it is a repellant for fungi)
4. just use it allready will ya !

It is very easy to come by, it is marketed for several purposes, in construction (for leveling floors, for insulation), but also in horticulture. One example is the 'organic vermiculite' from the brand 'Espoma'. But keep in mind, this is nothing other than the usual Vermiculite you find anywhere else, even the one used for construction. I got a bag of 100L of the latter (brand Sibli). If you think that's way too big a volume to stock, well you can perfectly use it to mix with your potting soil for flower baskets etcetera.

Why is it, that the big bonsai scene does little or no effort with regard to exploring possibilities beyond the paved road, to research alternative techniques and materials. This can only be because there is a fear to lose control, to go outside this save haven and risk things (ego?image?) Perhaps lack of young people wanting to explore, perhaps too few critics? We say we are creative spirits, don't we? We have a job to do, and that is to build our own unique European way to bonsai, that includes renewing, if we can benefit from it (results or knowledge).

What does it look like? Well, a picture of the vermiculite I allready included in an article of mine that I posted on my blog earlier about 'a durable substrate as alternative for akadama and peat'.
The results I got, you can check in my recent post about the 'ulmus procera project'.Feel free to google however, all vermiculite really looks the same.